Korda Rallies to LPGA Title


Jessica Korda closed with a 7-under 65 to win the Airbus LPGA Classic. The $1.3 million event began Thursday on the Magnolia Grove course in Mobile, Ala., a stop on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.

The 21-year-old Korda, a native of Bradenton, Fla., had a flawless final round, posting seven birdies - including five in her last seven holes - to finish at 20-under 268, one stroke ahead of 54-hole leader Anna Nordqvist.

The 26-year-old Swede posted a 69 Sunday. After two bogeys and a birdie on the front nine, Nordqvist finally got untracked on the home half with four birdies, including one on the par-4 closer at Magnolia Grove.

But by then it was too late as Korda successfully overcame her two-stroke deficit to Nordqvist starting the last round to notch her third LPGA title. The victory was worth $195,000.

Sharing third at 18-under 270 were Michelle Wie (67), English teenager Charley Hull (67) and Catriona Matthew. Matthew, a 44-year-old Scot, led through 36 holes but closed with rounds of 70 and 69 over the weekend.

Alone in sixth at 271 was South Korea's Jenny Shin (67), while tied for seventh at 16-under 272 were American Lexi Thompson (66), England's Jodi Ewart Shadoff (68) and Korean Eun-Hee Ji (68).

No. 2-ranked Stacy Lewis began the final round only two shots behind Nordqvist. But Lewis, the winner of the North Texas LPGA Shootout in early May, finished with a 1-under 71 to end up sharing 10th place with fellow American Brittany Lincicome (66), Spaniard Belen Mozo (68), and Korean So Yeon Ryu (69).

Lewis needed a solo third-place or higher this week to supplant Korea's Inbee Park as the No. 1 player in women's golf. Park missed the cut in Alabama after posting rounds of 74 and 76.

For all the scores, visit www.lpga.com.